Handball champs Kamusinga Girls keen to stamp authority

Kamusinga (white) from western in action against Dagoreti from Nairobi during the National Secondary school games at Nakuru High school.[Kipsang Joseph,Standard]

National girls handball champions Moi Girls Kamusinga will have everything to play for at this year's Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term One games that begin on Tuesday in Eldoret.

With their title on the line and tickets to the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) games set for Huye, Rwanda in August, Kamusinga have vowed to fire from all cylinders.

Kamusinga coach Godfrey Simiyu said that their main objective this year is to reclaim the East Africa title but to get there they must retain their national title.

"Our main target is the East Africa trophy but at the nationals we will be very careful because every step matters and leads to qualification for FEASSSA games," Simiyu said.

Acknowledging that her girls were not at their best last year and struggled to win, Simiyu said that he embarked on a recruitment drive after returning from Arusha, Tanzania last year.

"We did not take a break after the East Africa games but continued with training, I also recruited and I targeted last year's candidates who had excelled in primary school games to beef up my squad."

Kamusinga have been so committed to their course that they have not lost a single match since returning from last year's East Africa games.

Inspired by the desire to succeed, they have been to several tournaments where they refused to show respect to their opponents beating top clubs in the country.

"No team has beaten us, the girls were not happy with their performance during last year's games and they agreed to work hard and improve individually and as a team and the results have been amazing," Simiyu added.

Kamusinga are in Group B where they will play Nairobi champions Dagoretti Mixed, Dr Charles Muli from Eastern and Nyanza's Miranga Secondary School.

Group A has Coast champions Kaya Tiwi, last year's finalists St Joseph's Kitale, Nyathuna from Central and North Eastern's Hon DM Amin.

In the boys' contest, defending champions Hospital Hill will be hoping to successfully defend their title. The city boys are in Group A alongside last year's finalists Kamito from Rift Valley, Eastern champions Mbooni Boys and Central region's Handege.

Hospital Hill will launch their title defence against Kamito in a repeat of last year's final. They will be out to prove that last year's 30-25 victory that gave them the national trophy was not a fluke.

Kamito on the other hand are itching to exert revenge on the side that denied them the bragging rights on their national debut. Hospital Hill will take on newbies Handege and Mbooni in their second and third ties.

In Group B, former holders Musingu High School will be keen to announce their return to the national scene with a bang. Musingu who have been tormented by their Western region nemesis St Luke's Kimilili for over a decade finally secure their return and seek to reclaim their lost glory. They will clash with Nyanza champions Manyatta in their opening match before playing Sabunley of North Eastern and Coast region's Tsangatsini on day two and three of the championships.

Record holders Kimilili were bundled out at the Western region games and will be among sports powerhouses that will be missing at this year's championships.